Array BioPharma appoints Andrew Robbins to COOArray announced that Andrew Robbins, Array's Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, has been appointed COO. Array also announced that COO David Snitman has announced his intention to retire at the end of June 2015. Until that time, Snitman will serve as Executive Vice President of Business Development.

Array BioPharma announces completion of binimetinib and encorafenib transactionsArray BioPharma (ARRY) announced the completion of both the binimetinib and encorafenib definitive agreements with Novartis. Along with global ownership of both assets, Array will receive an upfront payment of $85M from Novartis (NVS). Effective March 2, 2015, Novartis' global, exclusive license to binimetinib terminated with all rights reverting to Array, and Array received global rights to encorafenib. Array will receive an $85M upfront payment from Novartis and reimbursement for certain transaction-related expenses. Novartis will provide transitional regulatory, clinical development and manufacturing services as specified below and will assign or license to Array patent and other intellectual property rights it owns to the extent they relate to binimetinib and encorafenib. Other than a de minimis payment to Novartis from Array, there are no milestone payments or royalties payable between the parties under the encorafenib agreement. As part of the transactions, Array has agreed to obtain an experienced partner for global development and European commercialization of both binimetinib and encorafenib. If Array is unable to find a suitable partner in the prescribed time period, a trustee would have the right to sell such European rights. Array entered into a third party agreement necessary to complete the transactions. Net consideration Array agreed to pay amounts to $25M. This payment is consistent with the earnings guidance provided on the quarterly conference call held on February 3, 2015. Novartis will reimburse Array for all remaining out-of-pocket expenses and half of all remaining FTE costs associated with MILO, which Array will continue to conduct. For NEMO and all other ongoing and planned clinical trials for binimetinib (other than COLUMBUS, as described above), Novartis will conduct and solely fund each trial, until a mutually agreed-upon transition date to Array. Following this transition, Novartis will reimburse Array for all remaining out-of-pocket expenses and half of all remaining FTE costs required to complete these studies. Novartis will remain responsible for conducting and funding development of the NRAS melanoma companion diagnostic until Premarket Approval is received from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Following approval, Novartis will transfer the product and Premarket Approval to a diagnostic vendor of Array's designation. Novartis also retains binimetinib and encorafenib supply obligations for all clinical and commercial needs for up to 30 months after closing and will also assist Array in the technology and manufacturing transfer of binimetinib and encorafenib. Novartis will also provide Array continued access to several Novartis pipeline compounds for use in currently ongoing combination studies, and possible future studies, including Phase 3 trials, with encorafenib and binimetinib.

FTC puts conditions on Novartis's proposed acquisition of GSK oncology drugs According to the FTC, Global pharmaceutical company Novartis (NVS) has agreed to divest all assets related to its BRAF and MEK inhibitor drugs, currently in development, to Boulder, Colorado-based Array BioPharma (ARRY) to settle charges that Novartis’s $16B acquisition of GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) portfolio of cancer-treatment drugs would likely be anticompetitive...If the acquisition goes forward as proposed, Novartis would likely delay or terminate development of both its BRAF and MEK inhibitors, as well as the combination product. For that reason, Novartis’s acquisition of GSK’s portfolio of cancer-treatment drugs would likely cause significant competitive harm in the U.S. markets for both the BRAF and MEK inhibitors, ultimately raising prices for consumers and depriving them of potentially superior products. Under the terms of the proposed consent agreement, Novartis is required to provide transitional services to Array BioPharma to ensure that development of the BRAF and MEK inhibitors continues uninterrupted and that competition in BRAF and MEK inhibitor markets is not reduced. Reference Link